Rome- Day 3

Well- it's our final day of our Spring Break vacation...

so here it goes!

We ALMOST didn't buy tickets to get into the Colosseum... we were starting to feel a little chincy with the money as the vacation went on.

BUT when in Rome, right?

AND there were no regrets.

 

I just kept imagining Gladiators fighting to the death...

 

As the people cheered them on...

Kinda reminded me of "The Hunger Games" :)

 

So see how a little bit of the ground is covered?

That's where the stage would have been...

Underneath is a complex system of cages, levers, and pulleys where they would house the animals for the fights.

Those Romans had it figured out!

 

So see that little red dot in the picture below?

That's a balloon- just to give you an idea of perspective :)

 

Outside the Colosseum by the Arc of Constantine

 

 Taking a rest...

 AND... into the Roman Forum!

Jon played tour guide as he read all the building descriptions from our book...

It's crazy to think that ALL of this had been underground until the end of the 18th century...

They've excavated it all, and they're STILL excavating and finding new things!

Kind of makes you wonder what's under your own feet :)

Those doors are original... from the 2nd century. 

Crazy.

 

The remains of what once was a HUGE basilica.

 

The roof of said basilica...

And a final look over the Roman Forum...

We stayed there pretty much ALL day.

We ate one last Italian meal,

at a cute little place.

And mozied back to our hotel...

Farewell Roma!

*sniff sniff*

The rest is history... we've been home since Tuesday... and life is already back to being busy.

ALTHOUGH if you ever have the chance to fly KLM Dutch... DO IT!!!

Best flight ever!

They brought us two FULL course meals, snacks galore (cookies, crackers, nuts, candy bars, mentos- which were up for grabs ALL the time), they even brought us ice cream.

And after every meal- they brought out hot steaming towels to wipe your face.

It was the closest thing I've ever experienced to airline luxury.

:)